LI Network
Published on: 26 January , 2024 at 21:52 IST
The Delhi High Court has issued a series of directives to the Delhi Government and its Directorate of Education (DoE) to ensure the efficient functioning, operation, and maintenance of seven special schools and hostels in the national capital catering to visually impaired children.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora mandated that the DoE take charge of providing hostel amenities to all students enrolled in the Special Schools.
This includes ensuring timely provision of quality food, uniforms, clothing, recreational facilities, and other necessities required for the students’ daily needs.
The Court emphasized that the DoE, GNCTD must uphold the operation and maintenance of these seven schools as Special Schools in accordance with Section 31 of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD) 2016.
Section 31 of the RPWD Act stipulates that all educational institutions must furnish or arrange for the provision of amanuensis to assist blind students and those with low vision.
Additionally, the DoE was directed to ensure the appointment of a Superintendent for each hostel, along with regular cooks, sanitation staff, caretakers, and security guards within eight weeks. This measure aims to guarantee the consistent and timely availability of food and other facilities without any disruptions.
Furthermore, the DoE was instructed to ensure the prompt availability of braille books, assistive devices, and other reading materials to all students enrolled in the special schools.
The Court urged the DoE, GNCTD to maintain and enhance the existing facilities and infrastructure at these schools and hostels to set a precedent for other regions to emulate.
Moreover, the living conditions of students in the hostels are to be upgraded and maintained to prevent the recurrence of any reported lapses, as highlighted by Court Commissioners.
The DoE was directed to evaluate the proposed measures concerning the hostels and make a decision by February 28 to facilitate necessary budgetary allocations for the next fiscal year 2024-25.
These directives were issued in response to a plea filed by the National Federation of the Blind, an NGO, in 2018, addressing concerns about facilities for blind children in hostels.
The Court commended the Delhi Government’s efforts to fulfill its obligations under Section 31 of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, expressing confidence that prioritizing compliance with these directives would establish the Special Schools and Hostel facilities as models for other states to emulate.